Janowitz!

Thank you, mi amor, for the wonderful gesture of calling to give the go-ahead. Janowitz will be home Tuesday; she is due for spay surgery tomorrow. She was quite a hit at the adoption line being admired for getting along with toddlers, dogs, cats, rabbits, and even a budgie alike. She accepts everyone. Many people petted her. But we made a special friend, who delivered yet another omen.

Janowitz holding Dolores' foot

The very young woman waiting in line after us had adopted two young kittens and commented on how gently our dog approached them, to the point that they were not even alarmed. I told her the story and we got to the topic of name, which, I explained, we were going to change and she agreed it needed to be changed because bad people gave it to her. I added, "I'm afraid that people will not understand the switch to an even weirder name, Janowitz.." She, it turns out, is a Russian Jew, whose parents fled Russia 14 years ago, where Jews are still discriminated and even persecuted (beaten in an alley, disappearing, and that sort of thing) by white Russians -- while our government looks the other way and signs senseless alliances with them. To my surprise she said: "Oh, but it's a beautiful, sweet-sounding name in any of it's Slavic forms (in Russian it is Ivanovich). It suits her." So, we got the approval of those familiar with Slavic languages.

After I signed the papers and paid her price of $95, I asked Cynthia, who processed the adoption, if she could give me some details about her cruelty case. Witholding names, of course, she said that a case of criminal neglect was called in. As in "Houston Cops," investigators went to the address with our favorite Constable, Christine Kendrick, and seized three dogs. All had been cruelly confined (it wasn't clear from HSPCA files whether chained or not) without access to water or food, living in their own feces. One was already dead, the other died soon after arrival at HSPCA, and "Johnson" was barely alive. They had to keep her alive as "evidence" for the arraignment and court case, or in her condition they would have euthanized her to spare her further sufferieng. She managed to cling to life thanks to fluids and soft food intubation. She could not eat on her own power any more. CAN YOU BELIEVE IT!!!?? This happened within Huston city limits.

She was in the clinic from the time of her being seized, 22 October, until she was put online for adoption 16 or 17 November, way too soon because the clinic has few cages, and they are too small for a dog her size to stand and move comfortably. As I told you, seeing that skeleton of a dog, I decided that sunshine and walks were as essential to her recovery as food. Then I realized that her state of terror was such that she froze in place once she was leashed. She stood in place and trembled for a long time. Since she was skin and bones, i.e., half her natural body weight, I could easily lift her, and this way I would take her outdoors every day -- and left instructions for others to do the same. Every day we noticed improvement, until she was looking forward to her walks. Naturally, she became most attached to the first person who paid a lot of one-on-one attention to her. I provided the first kindness she probably ever knew.

Fostering was the only way to expand her horizons, build trust, fatten her, and make her adoptable. It worked like a charm. She also became more attached than is normal in only a week, precisely because her background was a clean slate of anything kind. She was in a situation meant to cause slow death, intentionally. Still and all, difficult as it was, I took her back to the adoption line, Kennel 49, shared with another unfortunate, Queen, after 7 days of being with us. It was traumatic for her to return to the turmoil of a shelter. Every time I walked by she was desperate. She would follow me with her eyes wherever I went. I heard her bark for the first time, and it was not a happy one. She just wanted to go back to the only Haven she ever knew.

The only revenge Janowitz can have is, as holocaust survivers say, "to live well." It is possible that other people could provide that opportunity, but she may also end up in the hands of other evil or just incapable creeps. Enough is enough. I wanted to adopt her because I was tired of going to HSPCA every day to give her an extra ration of food, ensure at least one walk a day, and ward off creeps who may want to adopt her. I was exhausted and Farhaan, Astra, and the cats were being ignored. But after finding details of her ordeal this morning, I am doing if for her, and only for her.

After her desperate look in my direction despite being in the midst of a pleasant walk with two young volunteers and her kennel mate, refusing to go with them but wanting to come with me, I could not sleep. Her eyes haunted me. Then the omen of her name .... Even if I had found her a perfect home, I think that her world was so deprived that the first impression of happiness is what she would have always wanted to go back to. She would long to be with us, and I would forever wonder. This is easier.

Thanks you, Chris, for your endless patience with me. Everyone understands that one of your innumarable qualities, strengths, and virtues is the ability to put up with someone like me so gracious and generously. My gratitude is deeper than words. TQ. -- Dolores